Press Releases: 2007 Releases

Students Raise Funds for UCP of PA

Contact Information: Joan W. Martin jmartin@ucpofpa.org www.ucpofpa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (January 29, 2007)

“Local CAT-Brandywine Students hold successful fund raiser for United Cerebral Palsy”

Coatesville, PA – Two students from the Center for Arts & Technology – Brandywine Campus organized and carried out a very successful fund raising project benefiting United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). The Project Coordinators, Ralph Showalter and Will Supplee, both of Octorara, planned three events that resulted in a donation of over $7,000. The project was organized through DECA – An Association of Marketing Students, who presented a check to Joan W. Martin, Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy of Pennsylvania on January 24 at their campus in Coatesville.

DECA gives students the opportunity to compete in business related events, learn leadership skills, and coordinate community service projects. The students will enter their project in competition in February at the State Conference in Hershey, PA. The coordinators said they chose UCP to benefit from their project because one of them has cerebral palsy. Ralph Showalter, a senior business student, remarked that “People know me after three years and everyone sees that I’m no different than them.”

In accepting the check, Joan Martin thanked the Project Coordinators and the faculty and administrators who supported them, and noted that she was “amazed at their success and extremely grateful for their hard work” The team of Ralph Showalter and Will Supplee organized and marketed three events that got great response from the students and the community. The events included selling cat paws, which refer to the school’s acronym – CAT, in a student competition; offering a car wash and detailing service, and holding a student fun day called Mid-Year Bash. The students were supported in carrying out their Project by an Advisory Committee and by the Principal, Richard Saylor, by teacher/DECA Advisor Pam Przychodzien, and Auto Technology Program teacher Peter Laviola.

The funds will be used to support the mission of United Cerebral Palsy of Pennsylvania to advocate for the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. The organization, a 501(c)3 charity, was founded in 1952 by parents of children with disabilities and includes a network of service providers across the Commonwealth. The local service provider is Cerebral Palsy Association of Chester County in Exton, PA. For information contact them at 610.524.5850. ###

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